Table



Jan. 9, 1923., LMZMW w.- L. WHITESIDES.

TABLE.

FILED MAY 25. I922. 2 SHEET$SHEET 2'.

anus/Mm Wiibwaoo patented Jinn. ti ie a rants.

Application filed. llliay fw, 1922;. serial no. 563/l67.

To all whom itmay concern: Be it known that l, l/Vnrni'nn VVHI'ITE- snins, a citizen of the United States residing at LonglBeach, inthe county of Los Angeles and State of @Calilornia have in vented certain newand useful Improvements in Tables; and I do declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled 10 in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same. a y

This invention relates to an improved table which is adaptable for use as a display table, although it is primarily designed rlfor use as a kitchen table. p

The principal objecto't the intention ton provide anilnproved table which. is ca pable of being collapsed or folded into co npactlorin so as to enable it to be stored in an out-o:l-the-way place when not in use.

lit is another object of the invention to generallyimprove upon tables of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability, which is comparatively inexpensire to both the manufacturer and the user. ll llore specifically speaking. it is a turtluir objectof the invention to dev'se a unique table eniibodyinp; a plurality oil I" joldaliile superposed supporting surfaces for various articles, these being pivotally connected at their outer ends with legs designed to be broughtinto abutting relation whenthetable is folded and not in use. i

Other objects and advantages oi the in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

llu the accompanyingdrawings tforiningr a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to. designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a table constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View talren substait tially on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fi ures is a side elevation showingtho table folded or collapsed. p

Figure l is an enlarged detail perspective view of the improved connecting member for the sections of the superposed'supporting ll ii member Figure 5 is a similar view showingxsaid member connected with the sections of one ot the supporting); members with said sec tionspartially folded.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of these parts of the invention showing the" sections folded into the same horizontal plane.

In carrying out the invention, I COIllJGlIk plate using a table which comprises a plurality ofvertically disposed legs 1 between which are arranged a plurality of horizontally disposed superposed article supports 2, the upper one of which maybe conveniently-referred to as a top, andthe remaining ones as shelves. Inasmuch as the top is constructer l. exactly like the shelves and is connected. with the legs in precisely the same manner, the description will be in the sin .ggular, it being understood that thesanie reierence,characters serve to designate all like parts. Before proceeding to describe the construction olf the table top it may be mentioned that if desired, the legs may be provided at their lower ends with rollers or '75 casters 3 to facilitate increment of the table from place -to place. Although the table top could be constructed otherwise, it ispretfer ably composed of duplicate sections 4 having their inner. ends arranged in abutting rela tion and connected together by novel connecting members or hinges to be hereinafter specifically described. lit will be notedthat at their outer ends,- the sections l rest on and are secured to horizontal crossdiers 5 which extend between the legs 1 in the manner shown. So that the lens may approach one anotherrto permit foldingg of the table, it is necessary that the cross-bars 5 be inorable and although they may beconnected with the legs in any other manner they are preferably formed at their outer ends .with reduced journals 6 rotatably receivable in sockets 7' formed in the inner faces of the legs. tlo operative with the cross-bars 5 are other cross bars 8 which are rigidly secured with the legs in any suitable manner. The last namedcross-bars 8a re disposed above the movable onesso as to permit the ends of: the top sections to be disposed. between. the barsas illustrated. The stationary bars 8 are thus permitted to: function as stops and Cir they serve to limit the upward swinging movement of the outer ends of the sections l as is obvious. To hold the parts in opera tive position when the table is in use, I eniploy diagonal braces or sustainingmembers 9 formed with longitudinal slots 10 for cooperation with the thumb-screws 11 intended to be positioned in the laterally directed upper ends of the slots. Any other suitable type of braces may be employed if desired. It is of course desirable to make use of some means for holding the table in the collapsed condition shown in Figure 3 and although any other means could be employed, I simply use pivoted latches 12 having notches 13 at their free ends for engagement with headed pins or studs 14 carried by one of the legs.

It has been before intimated that I employ special means for connecting the meeting edges ofthe sections of the table top together. Therefore, I direct attention to Figures/l to 6 wherein this means is more clearly shown. Although the construction of the connecting members could be of other design, each member preferably comprises a pair of apertured leaves or plates 17 and 19 which are pivotally connected together at their inner ends by the knuckles and pintle as indicated at 20. In practice these leaves are adapted to be set in recesses formed in the under sides of the sections 1 so that a leaf Will be connected with each section on opposite sides of the meeting ends. So that the sections cannot sag at this point, each leaf is equipped with a laterally disposed sectors 21 which are adapted for reception in shallow recesses 22 formed in the outer edges of the supporting sections 4. The inner adjacent edges of these sectors 21 are adapted to abut one another so as to limit the swinging movement of the hinged leaves in an upward direction, whereby to hold them in a true horizontal plane when the table is in use. It is of course understood that two connecting members will be used. for each supporting surface, one being disposed at each of the outer longitudinal edges of the sections 4 as indicated in the drawings. It is obvious that connecting members of this type are particularly advantageous in that they are extremely inexpensive and very simple in construction, yet they are such as to effectively accomplish the desired ends. It is to be noted that the laterally disposed. sectors 21 do not extend to the upper surface of the top and they are practically invisible when looking down upon the supporting surfaces.

It has been already set forth that the shelves beneath the top are constructed exactly like the top and are connected with the legs in precisely the. same manner. Therefore, it is unnecessary to enter additional description on these details of the invention.

Assuming that the table is in use. it, up pears as shown clearly in Figure l. the several sections of the top and. shelves laying! disposed. in the same horizontal plane pcrmit numerous articles to be supported thereon either fpr use in a kitchen or for display purposes. The braces 9 serve to hold the legs upright. By loosening the thumbscrews however, it will .be seen that the sev eral legs 1 could be moved into abutting relation. hile the legs are approaching one another, the sections of the top and shelves are automatically broken, swung up, and assume the divergent positions shown. \Vhen the legs come together, the latches 12 are engaged with the pins 14: to hold the parts in this folded condition. Hence, the table can be stored in a relatively small. space.

It is evident from the foregoing description in connection with the drawings, that persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a. more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and describml. this is taken as the preferred eniluuliment ol' the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A folding table comprising a plurality of supporting legs, cross-bars pivotally connected with said legs, and a sectional top,

the sections thereof resting on said crossbars and being secured thereto.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, iogether with stops arranged. on the logs above said crossbars and engage-able with the upper sides of the top to limit the upward movement of the pivoted sections thereof.

3. A folding table comprising a plurality of vertically disposed supporting legs. a horizontal top composed of sections pivot ally connected together at their inner ends. horizontally disposed upper and lower spaced bars connoctml with the logs, the outer ends of the sections of the top being disposed between said bars the lower barn being pivoted and the upper bars be ng rigid and said sections oi lhc lop being: 1- 0- cured to the pivoted bars.

4;. A folding table comprising a plurality of vertically disposed spaced legs formed with horizontal bearing sockets, l\()l'i/.()l|-- tally disposed bars having their outer ends reduced to form journals rotatable in said II lb sockets, and a topcon'lposed 0;]? folding sec tions, said sections being secured. at their outer ends to "said bars.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, together with additional horizontal bars rigidly secured to the legs and spaced above the first named bars, said rigid bars being engageable with the upper faces 01 the sections of said. top to limit the swingi 11g; movement of these in one direction. 10

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER L. WI-HTESIDES. Witnesses BERTHA L. HILLARY, LAURA B. Sco'r'r. 

